The Associate Clinic in Pincher Creek. (Google Maps)

By David Opinko

Nine physicians in Pincher Creek to discontinue hospital-based services

Apr 22, 2020 | 12:16 PM

PINCHER CREEK, AB – The community of Pincher Creek is set to lose all the hospital-based services of its doctors.

A letter was released by The Associate Clinic’s nine physicians, Dr. Cathy Scrimshaw, Dr. Tobias Gelber, Dr. Gavin Parker, Dr. Bev Burton, Dr. Tracy Burton, Dr. Jared Van Bussel, Dr. Ashley Rommens, Dr. Daniel Ruttle, and Dr. Samantha Myhr.

They cited recent decisions by the Government of Alberta.

“As of March 31st, the government has decided that the care we provide in hospital is worth less than that same care given in clinic — even though for us they are under the same roof. While it is rewarding to offer all the extended services we are able to in Pincher Creek, they do come at a cost. This work is what steals us away from our patients during office hours and our families on evenings and weekends.”

“Government has also chosen to cut a program that helps physicians pay for the expensive insurance required to practise in areas like obstetrics. We strongly believe in your right to access safe obstetrical care in your home community, but at 100 deliveries a year our individual costs to maintain insurance coverage is now more than we can bill for this service. “

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As a result of these changes, the physician group said they had to make some tough decisions.

“In order to continue providing the same high-quality care in our office, all or most of us will be withdrawing from hospital, emergency, and obstetrical services in 90 days’ time.”

The group wanted to give extended notice to ensure patients and Alberta Health Services can arrange alternate coverage at the local hospital or get care elsewhere if needed.

“We hope the government’s promise of “replacement physicians” is genuine, but we question where these doctors have been while we have struggled to recruit for years.”

The physicians hope the government will not only reverse the changes they made, but also sit down with doctors to find a new agreement that considers the unique needs of rural communities.

Alberta’s Opposition NDP weighed in on this decision. Health Critic David Shepherd said this is a tragic loss for the community that will be felt for years to come.

“This crisis in rural healthcare is entirely the responsibility of [Health Minister] Tyler Shandro. He failed to listen to repeated warnings that this is exactly what would happen, but he tore up Alberta’s contract with doctors anyway. Sadly, we are going to see this happen soon in many more rural communities.”

Pincher Creek joins Stettler, Sundre, Lac La Biche, Rocky Mountain House, Rimbey, Canmore, Three Hills, Bragg Creek, Drayton Valley and Lacombe on a growing list of rural communities with reduced access to a doctor.

The NDP proposed a three-point plan to resolve these issues. The party wants the government to restore the previous contract with doctors on a temporary basis, enter third-party arbitration to develop a new contract, and repeal the parts of Bill 21 that allows the government to tear up any future contracts with doctors.

Correction: The Associate Clinic currently employs nine physicians, not 12. A representative from the Clinic said the original number was based on outdated information on their website.